Wardrobe Style Inspiration
Wardrobe Basics, the Capsule wardrobe
If you follow fashion trends and styles, then these top 11 senior fashion social media influencers are great inspiration. They do have deep pockets, but their style can be recreated with far less money. They are not above incorporating vintage with couture, mixing it with with colors and patterns, and adding in high-low pieces. Take a look: https://www.thezoereport.com/p/11-stylish-women-over-50-you-should-be-following-on-instagram-15928631 For a more European/Global fashion inspiration, check out The Sartoralist https://www.thesartorialist.com/
For those that look for high-end sustainable fashion, local high-end resale shops and online sites can be great for adding in wardrobe pieces to give a special flair. There you will also find moderately priced pieces as well. https://www.therealreal.com/
For those of you on limited fashion budgets, you can find many workable pieces at Goodwill and low-end consignment shops such as Crossroads Trading and Out of the Closet. Note that sustainability is now a major focus in the fashion industry and "used" clothing in our fast fashion era isn't worn out, in the main it is lightly worn and discarded. It takes a bit of patience to shop at Goodwill and the consignment shops, sometimes the visit is a bust in terms of finding something to incorporate into your wardrobe. Other times you will find many pieces that will work for you. Be sure to choose locations of the fashion resale/consignment shops where more affluent clients reside. For instance, the Goodwills in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica (affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods) are stocked with lightly worn current fashion. You may even find high end fashion as well in the cases behind the front counters.
Before you develop a capsule wardrobe, one that can be built upon, rather than just buying anything that appeals, look at what's in your closet. Anything unworn for a year should be donated or consigned. Whittle down your wardrobe to the basics upon which you will build your capsule wardrobe. Then, when you visit the consignment/resale shops you can search for things that will create additional looks using your capsule wardrobe basics.
Once we have our basic capsule wardrobe, what pieces are we lacking? Tops, jeans, blazers, sweaters, shoes? Then we shop to fill in our wardrobe style gaps. We also choose where to shop given our wardrobe budget. Know your sizes and measurements before you go to avoid waiting in a long line to try on garments (many times there are only one or two fitting rooms which are constantly occupied). You should also be aware of what works for you in terms of proportions and colors.
So, armed with $50 and four hours to spare, off we go to plump up our capsule wardrobe searching in Goodwill, Out of the Closet, and Crossroads Trading. We're not looking for bargains, we're looking for lightly used items to add to our wardrobe basics giving us more fashion options. Here's what we found with $2.03 to spare:
$14.99 - 7 for All Mankind black straight leg jeans barely worn in perfect condition
$ 7.99 - Blue Jean jacket, appropriately broken in, in good condition
$10.00 - White patterned blouse, in like new condition
$14.99 - Grey French made Boucle sweater jacket, good condition, no rips, stains, tears
With these pieces, I have at least two looks right there and am building upon and jazzing up my capsule wardrobe using basic foundational items in black and grey. I'll also pop those looks with a scarves from my collection and add black boots.
Remember: It's ot how much you spend to look great, it's how you put your look together creatively!
Next, we'll up our game using these outfits....
Amping up your style
Amping up your style
We heartily endorse sustainable style, using high-low items using textures and color patterns to create a look. Remember, toss items you haven't worn but keep the timeless pieces. Again, be sure to consider proportions. Scarves and necklaces are a great way to balance proportions, play up or down the ensemble. Always be on the lookout for unique items that can help you curate your wardrobe. Here are examples using high and low fashion sustainable pieces purchased from consignment and resale sources. We are especially particular to monochromatic dressing to create a capsule wardrobe adding textures and pops of color.
The 1st photo reflects a Saint Laurent grey denim jacket purchased from a high-end consignment source for upward of $450 (we'll have this and wear it for quite awhile so it's worth the money), our white patterned blouse found at a local consignment store mentioned previously, Forever21 pencil jeans with accents at the waist and pockets purchased for $7.99 at Goodwill, vintage Gucci shoes purchased 20 years ago, and topping it off with a red unique necklace found at a local resale shop for $3.99.
We'll build on this using a leather jacket with stud accents from the Diane Von Furstenburg luxury line purchased from a high-end luxury consignment source ($250) and the remaining items from our first photo, except substituting a scarf for the red necklace and high heels. The leather jacket is a statement piece that will be part of our curated wardrobe for quite awhile.
Accessories
Let's round out your capsule collection by adding accessories to pull your look together. As mentioned, scarves and unique jewelry help to emphasize or add texture and creativeness to your look. High-low can work but it should be integrated as well. Sustainability matters, don't overlook Vintage and consignment pieces. As with your wardrobe, accessory trends come and go. Seek to build a personal capsule accessory collection that will work with your capsule wardrobe. Gone are the days when the handbag matches your shoes, however your handbag, accessories and shoes should compliment or amp up your wardrobe.
Jewelry: It is recognized that a watch, especially a luxury watch, is forever. Choose whether you wish a capsule collection of watches or one luxury watch that you will wear forever. Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron and Cartier have stood the test of time, and in fact have increased in value over the years if considering resale. For example, a Rolex purchased in 1985 for $1900 can fetch approximately $3000-$5000 in the luxury resale market today. Don't be afraid to mix and match high-low pieces to express your personal style.
Handbags: Trends come and go. It is said that a French woman carries one handbag (a Hermes), she invested in in her '20s meant to be with her for life. There is merit to this, as a luxury handbag with care can last 70 years or more. A recent consignment of a Hermes handbag approximately 70 years old sold for approximately $1000. Investing in one classic luxury handbag is a good buy for the very reason that it is carried 24/7 for many, many years. Hermes, Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Balenciaga, Celine, Goyard and the like are well made and should you tire of them, hold their value well for consignment resale. Vintage luxury handbags make an excellent choice if one cannot afford a new luxury handbag. For trendy pieces, if your budget warrants, chose a trendy luxury handbag, but know that should you tire of it your consignment resale value will be less should the handbag be out of style. Best to seek out lower priced handbags that are in style with current trends. The style, material and the color you carry - tote, crossbody, top handle etc. should express your lifestyle and personal needs as well as compliment or amp up your capsule wardrobe. Chose your handbag style and colors wisely.
Shoes: Anything goes, however there are certain styles that have withstood the test of time: kitten heels, stilettos, knee high boots, basic sneakers, ballet shoes are always good choices. Your choice should, again, compliment your capsule wardrobe and be appropriate for your lifestyle as well. As far as luxury shoes, Gucci, Vuitton, Choo, Manolo and the like, it is your budget that determines whether you will go with high-end or lower priced alternatives. Make sure your colors and styles amp up or compliment your wardrobe, and as a default value, black or nude are good color choices. Consider texture as well, suede, patent, smooth leather, fabric etc. and how that will work with your clothing choices.
Glasses: Don't forget your choice of glasses style. You need to get your eye exams regularly, so while you're there choose a style that compliment your facial features and are in tune with today's styles and that match your personality, lifestyle and which should not be outdated for for at least a couple of years. Nothing dates a person (man or woman) more than outdated glasses that were purchased years and years ago. No one wants to make themself look like their Grandparents with old glasses frames. Some styles never go out of style such as Avaiators, which are a good example of a choice to get maximum use of a frame for years.
Don't be afraid to use accessories as statement pieces if that is your personal preference, use them as playful pieces, or everyday practical necessities. Curate and create with accessories as you do with your capsule wardrobe.
National Handbag Day October 10th! Find your dream handbag at The RealReal https://www.therealreal.com/
Find designers for less and great deals starting as low as $25 after 50% promotion. Check it out! https://www.therealreal.com/
Be Globally Responsible in your fashion approach
We support shopping and wearing fashion in a sustainable, Globally friendly fashion. Cutting your carbon footprint helps to stop Global climate deterioration and you practice that in making your fashion decisions. What better statement can you make in your fashion approach than to say that you wear and support sustainable Global fashion. But what is this and what does it mean for the fashion industry? Forbes weighs in on how the pandemic will affect fashion sustainability: https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2020/05/10/coronavirus-will-force-fashion-to-a-sustainable-future/#6aa876ea5292
www.whowhatwear.com has an excellent article on cutting your carbon footprint in making your fashion decisions. "...the amount of carbon dioxide that is generated through...where you shop, how you shop, how you take care of clothing, how you dispose of your clothing...emissions in creating the clothing you wear." Take a moment to read the article. Think about how you can help stop Global climate deterioration and yet be fashionable. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/beginners-guide-cutting-closets-carbon-050000075.html
The fashion houses now realize the impact of Global Warming and are taking steps to be more mindful of and responsible for protecting our Planet in designing and manufacturing fashion and accessories. The top fashion houses have banded together to fight Global Warming and support sustainable fashion. See https://www.edie.net/news/16/Fashion-giants-vow-to-end-contributions-to-global-warming-and-ocean-pollution/
Shop mindfully with the bigger picture in mind. Be Globally conscious and yet fashionable. It's a win-win for you and our Planet.
More inspo on a Shoestring
While we're out thrifting, it's worthwhile to note where gaps exist in your wardrobe and keep those ideas in your "bucket list" while thrifting. While our recent experience added basics to our jeans style (above), let's take a look at what we can find in the local thrift shop and how to integrate it with our recent thrifting.
A maxie skirt ($5.99) and maxie dresses ($7.99 each) each, and this on a day when the senior 10% discount was not available. Here we're, once again, integrating black (navy blue) but mixing it up as well with color. We'll add the blue jean jacket mentioned above, and a leather thrifted jacket jears ago, a newly thrifted Ferragamo belt in pristine condition for $3.99 (valued $400+) found at Goodwill, a hat, boots, heels, and scarf to the mix. Why not a strand of pearls? The items can be worn Winter or Summer, at home or on vacation. All, basics and complete looks for Pennies on the Dollar.
See below for our inspo. Of course, if this is a bit too understated for your needs, you can amp it up in multiple ways using color, belts, scarves, hats and shoes/boots as you wish. Let your imagination guide you with these basic dresses and skirt.
Work from home fashion inspo
Whether you are a home-based business, telecommute or otherwise are not required to work in an office daily, you can still dress for success. It's been proven that one is more productive if they create a routine of "dressing for work" even though working from home. No more bed to computer productivity working in your rumbled jammies. You'll need to create a work-day routine AND have a work from home wardrobe that does not include your rumbled, crumpled jammies. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/productivity-tips-working-from-home
While business casual takes on a whole new meaning when you work from home, you will still need some basics for those times you'll meet with clients or need to go into an office (see above for some inspo. Your accessories are of lesser importance (or not as you see fit). However, your work from home basics should also be tailored to comfort and style, allowing for working at home AND leaving the to run errands or other business purposes. How to determine you personal style and integrate it into your work from home routine is up to you. Here is comment from CNN on just that. https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/business/coronavirus-work-from-home-casual-dress-code-trnd/index.html
Your work from home wardrobe can be developed from thrifting and consignment sources, or if your budget allows, you may purchase new. You will spend less on clothing as you are not needing to change out your clothing to look well dressed in the office, however you should chose your clothing wisely as you may be required to wash your clothes more as you will need less clothing but wear it more - wearing out your clothing requiring more purchases to replace worn out pieces. Chose fabrics wisely, those that will breathe and move with you, and will withstand repeated wearing and washing.
What to choose? Fashion choices abound from sweats, jeans and high-style athleisure pieces - or a combo of them to suit your personal style. Nevertheless, you will want to coordinate the pieces, shoes and accessories as you would do if you were working in an office. You will be able to use your office attire as capsule basics too and for those times when you must step out for errands, meetings and other appointments. Much as you built a capsule wardrobe (above), you can do the same with your work from home wardrobe. Take advantage of online wardrobe services as www.stitchfix.com For inspiration, visit https://thefashiontag.com/dress-code-working-from-home/ and other fashion blogs and sites.
Post-Pandemic Fashion
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an indelible footprint on all aspects of our society, including fashion. We have witnessed the death of fashion malls, bricks and mortar stores, an emphasis on fashion social and Global responsibility, and health mandates for facial coverings and social distancing. All have influenced and changed our perception of the importance and role of fashion in our society and our lives.
The history of fashion reflects it changing over time in response to societal, cultural, religious and economic factors. Hemlines have risen and fallen, shoes have changed shape and height, women and men have been liberated from former norms and conventions in the workplace, and lessening importance of fashion as a social, economic and class indicator. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_fashion_design Social distancing, working from home, stay safe indoors policies dampen the need for clothing as a means to reflect one's "taste" in public. Basically, since anything goes with regard to fashion, no one cares anymore what someone is wearing, only those attuned to the art of fashion will notice and remark upon it. The latter is especially important as the social and workforce of post-pandemic society will not need to purchase a lot of clothing as home, work and social endeavors will accept and endorse the same style of clothing as acceptable. Socially responsible fashion choices will also exert pressure on fashion choice, resulting in more thrifting and consignment choices as Globally, socially and economically important. Will fast fashion be replaced by socially responsible clothing recycling? www.therealreal.com www.threadup.com
What will happen to the venerable fashion houses of Italy and France? Chanel, Gucci, Vuitton, Hermes, Goyard, Prada, Versace, Tom Ford? Will they retain their prestige and following? Or are they destined to slowly die out? What about their fashion runway shows with their pomp and exquisite models showcasing designer wares? Never available economically to the masses, this clothing has the mystique it deserves due to exquisite tailoring, the fabric and detail, and the fantasy it exudes. Those that can afford these pieces, historically, do set themselves apart from the masses because they can afford to buy (or are seen in) this clothing, yet the fashion design does trickle down into fast fashion. More and more, these fashion houses compete to dress nobility, movie stars and influential society patrons to showcase their workmanship without the former having to purchase the garments and jewels. And, the demand for their vintage pieces is high as it was at the time the piece was made. For instance, a 1992 Chanel line couture blazer can be had for approximately $700+ through consignment sources. A vintage Hermes Birken is coveted, priced well over $5000 given supply and demand. More and more the couture clothings and accessories are considered "investment pieces" given their resale value.
Where does this all lead? See comments in Vogue regarding post-lockdown fashion from insiders: https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/what-will-post-lockdown-fashion-look-like Certainly your lifestyle will play a big part in fashion choices, while governmental mandates (facial covering), economic factors and enforced social distancing and isolation at home will curtail the need for fashion consumption. You can still dress to impress, but now it is your time to dress for yourself to express your personal style and brand.
Paris Fashion Week 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/style/louis-vuitton-chanel-alexander-mcqueen-paris-fashion-week.html
Back to the Office - your wardrobe choices
So it's back to the office, whether full-time or a hybrid situation. Now's the time to rediscover those office clothes you haven't worn in a year or so. Do they still fit? Does your wardrobe still appeal to your fashion sense of identity? It's time to take stock of your wardrobe, literally, to determine what will work for you now after the pandemic WFH situation has ended. You've changed after working from home for over a year, you sense of style, while not really relevant working from home, has now become important returning to the office and in the social sense once restaurants and bars have completely opened up.
Take time to thoroughly clean out your closet, start working on your work/social capsule wardrobes, organize your clothing well, cull out what no longer appeals and consider adding capsule pieces that work well for you. Consider the environment, consign or donate clothes you no longer wish to keep.
Business casual will certainly be more on the part of comfortable casual but don't let your office attire age you or portray a sense of indifference as to who you are and your respect for the business environment. Select clothing additions wisely, making them ones you will wear and keep for a long time. Remember that how you present yourself, no matter how casual the working environment is, has a lot to do with how well you are respected for your work ethic and personal presentation. See: https://www.instyle.com/fashion/coronavirus-will-change-fashion-depression-era-style
The COVID fashion trends influence
Remote/WFH COVID workspacing has changed fashion, at least in the near term and possibly for forever, to be less influential in its branding to comfortable, relaxed, qualitative pieces that can run the gamut from walking the dog, running errands, to Zoom meetings with coworkers. Branding is less important while relaxed style, good workmanship and materials are prized. While au courant high couture may still be coveted by some, more in vogue is sustainable style choices and a relaxed approach to dressing with lesser emphasis on branding. Loungewear is now the fashion choice. See: https://www.thezoereport.com/p/5-loungewear-brands-that-will-dominate-wfh-style-according-to-celebrities-54591022
Many feel that they have been unchained from ritualized "business" clothing requirements, whether male or female. And, those requirements are not needed in today's WFH working environments - after all, Zoom meetings require at least a relaxed polished style from the waist up, jammies and slippers will do from the waist down. Many report that they are tired of sweats and slippers while working from home and have chosen to dress for their WFH day much as they would to work in a business casual office setting.
But, don't let WFH turn you into a totally relaxed slob since the emphasis on fashion and business workwear etiquette has been relaxed. Good grooming is still a priority and clothing in good repair is still necessary. In fact, there is even more emphasis on beautification in looking one's best on Zoom. See: https://www.thecut.com/2020/03/how-to-look-better-during-zoom-video-calls.html There has been a surge in enhancing one's facial presence in Zoom meetings with enhanced lighting, facial dermatology enhancers and plastic surgery to look one's best in a Zoom meeting. See: https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/plastic-surgery-zoom-boom-up-procedures-rise-facelifts-botox-lines-20201214.html
Regardless of your fashion style choices, a relaxed, kempt style in public and on Zoom is still necessary and will help maintain your personal self-esteem.
